§ Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Comonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the fact that Her Majesty's Government have to ratify the International Covenants on Human Rights by 23rd May 1976 in order to participate in the establishment of the Human Rights Committee to be set up under the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, he will make a statement of the present position.
§ Mr. LuardThe Government are making every effort to complete the work on which ratification of the Covenants depends in a timescale which might enable the United Kingdom to participate in the establishment of the Human Rights Committee. I cannot, however, yet say whether this will be possible.